Kris Commons will get a chance to say Celtic farewell

KRIS COMMONS will almost certainly be handed the chance to take a farewell bow at Celtic Park ahead of his summer departure.

The 33-year-old, winner of both the PFA Scotland and the Scottish Football Writers Association Player of the Year awards in 2013-14, hasn’t kicked a ball for the Hoops this season.

With the side in stunning form domestically plus a niggling back injury to contend with, he would normally look a 100-1 shot to break his way back into the team over the coming weeks.

Manager Brendan Rodgers, though, thinks Chelsea fans’ reception for John Terry in similar circumstances shows there is a place for sentimentality in the game.

“Being a supporter of the club I know what Kris has done in his time here. He has been a fantastic servant for Celtic so he’ll go with all our respect,” he said.

“I actually spoke to him on the subject (of getting a last run out), to be fair, earlier in the season as he could have gone in January.

“He had a great impact here but unfortunately for him this season the team has taken on a different dynamic.

“But he’s been brilliant. He has been a good guy and I like him.

“To be fair, he knew exactly where he stood on the very first day of the very first week when I came in, so there were no grey areas.

“He went out and got some games with Hibs and in general his behaviour has been exceptional. Superb – never a minute’s problem.

“We have sat together in my office talking football over a cup of tea and I’d say when he does finish playing he probably has a career in coaching in him.

“He can play on at a good level because he still has one thing which every team is after: quality.

“Players will tell you as they get older you slow up a wee bit with certain movements, but until Kris is 70 he will have a great left foot. It’s a wand.”

Celtic are meanwhile set to head to Austria in pre-season. Details are still to be confirmed but the proposal is to go to Linz from June 26 to July 4.